Electoral Fraud investigation

Ahem! Have you ever been to Tatton, dj? It could have been transported from somewhere in Surrey. The numpties had Neil Hamilton as their MP, for goodness sake.

I was born in the North, but have lived in the South East all my adult life. I've been quite shocked how much prejudice there is about people 'oop north'.

My daughter went to Manchester Uni and I thought it was a joke when my ex-MIL advised her against going to a northern city, but it wasn't - she meant it. Since then, my daughter has decided to settle in Manchester and is becoming a proud Mancunian. She loves it and is beginning to understand what I've been bleating on about Northern values. I think there is a North/South divide and I much prefer the values of the North.

As for the 'Northern Powerhouse', I have a horrible feeling it's an excuse to cut Manchester's overall budget and then blame Manchester's local government when people complain about cuts.

They've closed that one down, Jalima.

It just makes me think of a big power station, cooling towers steaming, plonked in the middle of the Northern countryside.

then again, the Northern Powerhouse (could get used to this phrase) does stretch right across from coast to coast (now, there's a walk and a half!) so it could be port or starboard depending on which road you take

It depends if you're driving down from the Northern Powerhouse, it could be a bit to the right

Port or starboard as DH would ask

Tell that to Osborne, Jalima. He chose it, and the man to run it, who happens to be a Tory MP surrounded by Labour.
That's what is ridiculous and annoying.

Sort of in the middle and a bit to the left. I think.

I am not saying the concept is annoying, just the names they choose for something so important.

South of where daphnedill?
South of the Northern Powerhouse, yes.

Are you a southerner, Jalima?

I hope you don't mind me saying, but Northern Powerhouse is such an annoying name, as are the soundbites that accompany the description

The Northern Powerhouse: One Agenda, One Economy, One North

We tried that one up here, Jalima, and were then told we couldn't be part of the Northern powerhouse so wouldn't be given any extra money.
And there I was thinking that bribery and corruption were illegal.
Gateshead is not joining, so that will be interesting.

wrong thread I think!
(I followed your link djen and then that jumped out at me)

Torbay is scrapping its elected mayoral system after a referendum - back to having a leader and cabinet system.
Common sense prevails!
Bath and NES voted no to an elected mayor in a referendum

Perhaps this is the beginning of the end of this ridiculous idea which encourages personality cult over sensible decisions.

www.channel4.com/news/election-expenses-tory-pcc-candidate-under-scrutiny

This is quite funny in a way.
The police have to investigate their boss for not declaring expenses.
Looking forward to seeing the result of this one.

Who paid for the drinks, Anya?
Isn't that the point?

Sorry, Anya, what was that apology for?
Swearing at me or thinking I was Jess?

Exactly Jalima and, I might add, the Labour MP at the time was canvassing with me, as was the Chair of the County Council, now a Labour MP herself. We saw nothing wrong with enjoying a drink with like-minded people.

Apologies DJ that was rude of me. Just a tad stressed today.

ITMA - you know, the one with the rhyming name accused of bullying (why would a parent do that?)

Well, this was the headline in that intellectually stimulating publication The Sun:
Gloucestershire Met to investigate allegations the Tories committed Electoral Fraud
What on earth is the Gloucestershire Met?
Does the new Commisioner know something I don't?
It pains me to provide a link, but here it is
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/7130932/Police-to-probe-Tories-over-election-spending.html

The Tories are certainly hoping so

It will all die a natural death never to be heard of again.

I don't really understand the bribery point - surely if someone is helping a candidate, going on the rounds with them, they are party members anyway (or it is 100% certain they will be voting for that particular party). So buying someone a coffee can hardly been seen as a bribe.

Now, if they started knocking on doors offering incentives to ordinary householders or buying rounds in the pub in exchange for a promise of a vote, that could be seen as bribery - but would that sway anyone? Really?

DJ WTF you on about NOW!

With respect devongilla as I said I DO know the rules having been through the process personally, but I guess you didn't read that post.

It was ridiculous of that person (not Jess) to suggest she couldn't buy her volunteers a - she could simply have added it into her election accounts. Skinflint IMO.